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Dr Sabi Lal - why is he still allowed to practice?

Posted by: Derryn Hinch for 3AW.com.au | 21 May, 2009 - 5:47 PM

Every decent doctor, male and female, in this country should shake their heads in anger and sorrow today. And every vulnerable woman who has ever undressed in front of her doctor.

At least you knew, until now, there were standards, ethics, moral codes, legal boundaries. And if a doctor transgressed they could - and would – be prosecuted and banned from ever practicing again. Until now.

Today The Victorian Court of Appeal ruled that a doctor convicted of rape will be allowed to practice again.

Sabi Lal was struck off by the Medical Practitioners Board after he was found guilty of raping a patient in 1998. He also had prior convictions for sexual assault.
The court today upheld a decision by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) that he be allowed to practice, but not have female patients.

This is madness. This is wrong.

The Medical Practitioners’ Board opposed his return and considers him unfit to practice. And you have to ask: what the hell is going on here? Doctor (and I use the word loosely) Doctor Sabi Lal was first suspended in 1999 following complaints from seven women. Seven.

He was allowed to return to practice in 2000 but only permitted to treat male patients over 16. He was allowed to treat women again later that year but soon after assaulted two female drug company reps and in 2002 was given a suspended jail sentence for digital rape.

Despite all that VCAT gave him his licence back and a court has sanctioned it. Even though VCAT acknowledged that the Fijian-born doctor has character flaws –which include sexual obsessions-- shows no remorse and there was a risk of a mental illness relapse which could result in ‘inappropriate behaviour with women’. Rape is not ‘inappropriate behaviour’. Indecent assault by a doctor is not ‘inappropriate behaviour’. They are crimes. This man should be barred for life. Even VCAT in its ruling concedes that Dr. Lal’s rehabilitation is ‘less than complete’.

I go back to what I said last year when Lal’s reinstatement was approved by VCAT:
Imagine this, if you are a woman. You walk into a shoe repairer’s shop and the man there says he thinks he can fix your problem but first step behind this screen and take your clothes off. You wouldn’t do it. You’d think he was weird or crazy or dangerous and you wouldn’t do it. But put the word ‘Doctor’ before his name and you would. That’s because you have faith in your doctor. And trust in your doctor.
And, when you are at your most vulnerable, when you suspect you have a lump in your breast or you are overdue for a Pap test, you rely on that trust and that faith.
As I said, this man should be barred from ever donning a white coat or a stethoscope again.

He should be banned for life.

Blog comments

As I'm sure none of you have read the case or the judgements, the 'rape' was a pap smear test. There was no sexual gratification and even the prosecutor conceded that it was "properly undertaken and necessary". He got found guilty of rape because the patient asked for this particular procedure to be done by a female Dr and Dr Lal said he would arrange that. He said he would prepare the patient and then a female dr would take over. As he was saying this he continued and completed the procedure. The court found this was because he was suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder.

Whilst there are many concerning parts of this judgements, it is disrespectful to the victim and your listeners to be so sensationalist in your reporting.

Bryan Saturday 6 February, 2010 - 9:11 PM
Giselle its not unusual for friends and family to support
those close to them and believe them.
Your train of thought though may have been different if it was you or a close family member it happened to.

Your not having empathy for the victims and how they must be feeling because you dont know them or see them
in extreme psychological trauma.

Caz Thursday 12 November, 2009 - 9:10 AM
Giselle, comparisons mean nothing when you are a victim of assult.

And, why do you put the word - assults - in quotes implying it wasn't real?

Both statements say a lot. Like you said, he is a friend of yours.

Liberator Monday 25 May, 2009 - 3:30 PM
Australia is under attack !!!

Justin Monday 25 May, 2009 - 2:17 PM
Giselle_waid you are a moron. Rape is rape. It is not a question of degree, but one of trust - and he breached it. Why he breached it isn't important - just the fact that he did.

Trent Monday 25 May, 2009 - 8:50 AM
I am a medical rep and Sabi has been a friend of mine. I am writing to defend him. His behaviour is nothing compared to what I have experienced with other doctors. Things are really misrepresented here. I not saying his behaviour was right but he was going through terrible personal difficulties. I really think you describe what these "assaults" were. As I have friends as relatives who have experienced real terror by unknown rapists what this man has done is nothing.

giselle_waid Friday 22 May, 2009 - 9:06 PM